Process begins to appoint new judge

Lenawee County attorneys hoping for an appointment to fill out the term of retiring Circuit Judge Timothy P. Pickard have until March 19 to submit applications to Gov. Rick Snyder’s office.

The Lenawee County Circuit Court vacancy was posted Tuesday, March 4, on the Michigan Bar Association website.

Pickard announced Feb. 7 that he will retire from the bench on May 1 after serving nearly 20 years as judge. He started his law career in 1974 in Adrian after graduating from Wayne State University Law School. He had served a tour of duty in Vietnam after being drafted into the Army following his graduation from Michigan State University.

His current six-year term expires in 2016. He was first elected in 1994 to succeed former Judge Kenneth B. Glaser.

At least half a dozen attorneys are expected to apply for appointment to complete the two and a half years remaining in Pickard’s term. The office will be on the ballot in 2016.There will be an in-depth review, screening and interview process of candidates for the appointment by Snyder’s judicial appointment team, said Sara Wurfel, the governor’s press secretary, in an email.

Finalists will then be interviewed and rated by the Michigan Bar Association’s judicial qualifications committee.

“Beyond official qualifications of being a licensed attorney for at least five years and a resident of the county noted, key attributes are all merit-based,” said Wurfel. The selection process will include rating the candidates’ legal acumen, fairness, work ethic, expertise and experience in court, she stated.